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1. GIVE IT TO ME BABY

2. GHETTO LIFE

3. MAKE LOVE TO ME

4. MR. POLICEimif

5. SUPER FREAK

6. FIRE AND DESIRE

7. CALL ME UP

8. BELOW THE FUNK (PASS THEJ)

UM° ®© 2002 Motown Records,
a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.,
1755 Broadway, New York, NY 10019 - USA.

Dfflrjbuted by Universal Music &
VideoDistribution, Corp. Warning:
All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication is a
violation of applicable Taws.

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IN THE SUMMER OF 1981. NO ONE WAS KEEPING THE FAITH WITH MORE FIRE AND FERVOR THAN RICK JAMES. INVOKING MILES
DAVIS JND JOHN COLTRANE AS WELL AS JAMES BROWN AND SLY STONE, THE FIERY FUNK SERMON HE PREACHED ON SWEET SONGS
PROVIDED A FRONT LINE REPORT FROM THE BLUES-HAUNTED STREETS OF BLACK AMERICAN WHILE OPENING UP A JAZZ-TINGED
VISION OF A NEW AND BETTER WORLD. WHILE THE DAWN OF THE REAGAN ERA WASN’T A GREAT TIME FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN
MUSICIANS. THE RESPONSE TO STREET SONGS WAS OVERWHELMING. IN MARCH. JAMES HAD RELEASED "GIVE IT TO ME” AND. BY
THE TIME THE SINGLE SURRENDERED THE TOP SPOT ON THE R&B CHARTS AFTER FIVE WEEKS, THE ALBUM HAD BEGUN ITS FIVE
MONTH STAY AT NUMBER ONE. FOR A BRIEF MOMENT. RICK JAMES WAS ON TOP OF THE MUSICAL WORLD.

1. GIVE BABY 4 08

Words & Music by Rick James

When I came home last night
You wouldn’t make love to me

You WENT FAST ASLEEP
YOU WOULDN’T EVEN TALK TO ME
YOU SAY I’M SO CRAZY
COMIN ’ HOME INTOXICATED
I SAY I JUST WANNA LOVE YOU

Guess that’s why I’m so elated
Come on girl
Give it to me baby
Give it to me baby

I BETCHA

I’LL MAKE YOU HOLLER ‘TIL YOU’VE HAD ENOUGH

Give it to me baby
Just give it to me baby

I BETCHA

I’LL MAKE YOU HOLLER ‘TIL YOU’VE HAD ENOUGH

Give it to me

Give me that stuff, that funk, that sweet that funky stuff

Give it to me

Give me that stuff, that funk, that sweet funky stuff
Give it to me baby
Just give it to me baby
Give it to me baby

I BETCHA

I’LL MAKE YOU HOLLER ‘TIL YOU’VE HAD ENOUGH

Give it to me

Give me that stuff, that funk, that sweet that funky stuff
Give it to me

Give me that stuff, that funk, that sweet that funky stuff

Give it to me

Give me that stuff, that sweet funky stuff

When I was high as the sky

Out all night just dancing

You SAY LET’S GO HOME

That’s the time I start romancin’

You SAY HOW CAN I LOVE YOU

When your body keeps on movin’

I SAY WAIT ‘TIL I SQUEEZE YOU

Maybe then you’ll start to groovin’

Come on girl

Give it to me baby, Give it to me baby

I BETCHA

I’LL MAKE YOU HOLLER ‘TIL YOU’VE HAD ENOUGH

Adlib — Give it to me
Whatcha say
Give it to me
Whatcha say

2. 4:21

Words & Music by Rick James

When I was a young boy
Growin’ up in the ghetto
Hangin’ out on corners
Singin’ with the fellas
Lookin’ for the cute chicks
Tryin’ to find me big fun
Lookin’ for some trouble
From anyone who’d give me some

I WAS YOUNG & CRAZY

(In the ghetto)

Didn’t know what my life would be
(In the ghetto)

I WAS DUMB 5. LAZY
(In THE GHETTO)

Something had a spell on me
(In the ghetto)

You ALL KNOW WHERE I’M COMIN’ FORM

Ghetto Life
Ghetto Life
Ghetto Life

When I was a young man
Kind of free & fancy

I MET THIS LITTLE CUTE GIRL

She said her name was Nancy
She had pigtails to her shoulders
She couldn’t have been much older
She taught me what I had to know
To MAKE a girl not want to go
She was young 5. kinky
(In the ghetto)

She let her pigtails down on me
(In the ghetto)

I WAS YOUNG 5. SNEAKY
(In THE GHETTO)

Had to see what love could be
(In the ghetto)

Ghetto Life
Ghetto Life
Ghetto Life

Bridge-1 knew it all along that my game was strong
But I was wrong that time

I KNEW I HAD TO PLAY, HAD TO GET AWAY

Didn’t you think I was smart enough
Didn’t you think I was strong enough
Didn’t you think I was man enough
Didn’t you think that I want to get out

(OF THE GHETTO LIFE)

Adlib-Sing it ‘til you feel it when you say
Ghetto life-ghetto life
Got to get an over, sing it to you children
When I was a young baby
Tenement slums & corner bums
Playing tag with winos was the only way

To HAVE SOME FUN ONE THING ‘BOUT THE GHETTO
YOU DON’T HAVE TO HURRY

It’ll be there tomorrow

So PEOPLE DON’T YOU WORRY
We GOT TO START ALL OVER

(In the ghetto)

Got to build it from the ground
(In the ghetto)

People got, to come together
(In the ghetto)

All that goes around comes around
(In the ghetto)

Ghetto land

That’s the place we funk
That’s the place
We like to funk

3. 4:48

Words & Music by Rick James

Taste so good to the very last drop

You ON BOTTOM AND ME ON TOP

Rollin’ around to the saxophone sound

Feel so good don’t wanna come down

Make love to me baby

Do it nice and slow

Make love to me woman

Let YOUR FEELINGS SHOW~HEY BABY

Feel so good soaking wet like the rain

So SOFT AND GENTLE AND WE SHOW NO SHAME

Kissing you baby only you and I know

Feel so good just let your love flow

Make love to me

Let your feelings show

Feelin’ hot, feelin’ cold

Feelin’ young and feelin’ old

That’s what I feel when I’m holding you tighter

Squeezin’ you baby

Loving you with all my might

All I’m askin’ is just to make love to you

(Hey baby hey baby well, well)

Don’t you dare be nervous, don’t you dare be shy

Just let me make sweet love to you baby

Don’t you dare be nervous, don’t you dare be shy

There’s no need to wonder why

Don’t you dare be nervous when I call your name

What will you do when I call your name

Will you come like the fallin’ rain?

Come like the fallin’ rain
Come like the fallin’ rain
Feels so good
Woman do me
Woman do me good
Do ME
Do ME

4. 4:17

Words & Music by Rick James

Hey Mr. Policeman

I’ve seen you in my neighborhood

You look to me up to no good

I’ve seen you with your gun in your hand

Hey Mr. Policeman

I saw you shoot my good friend down
He was just havin’ fun
Checkin’ out a one 5. one
It’s a shame and disgrace

Everytime you show your face

Somebody dies man

Lalalalalauuula

Hey Mr. Policeman

Why don’t you leave the boys alone

Why don’t you just roll your own

And call me on the telephone

Hey Mr. Policeman

I SEE YOU WALKIN’ ON YOUR BEAT

Searchin’ strangers on the street
Especially the whores you meet
It’s . a shame such a disgrace
Everytime you show your face
Somebody dies man
Somebody dies
(Police monologue) Siren

This is a car #54 wait to check out etc .

Hey Mr. Policeman

I SAW YOU SHOOT MY GOOD FRIEND DOWN
He was just havin’ fun
Checkin’ out a one & one
Hey Mr. Policeman

I SEE YOU NEVER HAVIN’ FUN

Strapped to your side a gun
.357 Smith Magnum
It’s a shame & disgrace
Everytime you show your face
Somebody dies man

I’d rather be a farmer than to be a Police
I’d rather be a singer than to be a Police
I’d rather be a father than to be a Police

The kind of girl you read about
In new wave magazines
The girl’s a super freak

I KIND OF WANT TO TASTE HER

Everytime we meet

You KNOW SHE’S ALRIGHT, SHE’S ALRIGHT

She’s alright with me

She’s a super freak, super freak

She’s super freaky, yeah

She’s a very special girl

From her head down to her toenails

And she’ll wait for me at backstage with her girlfriends
In a limousine

Three’s not a crown to her she said
Room 7 14 I’ll be waiting

When I get there she’s got incense, wine and candles

Such a freaky scene

That girl is pretty wild now

That girl’s a super freak

The kind of girl you read about

IN NEW WAVE MAGAZINES
The GIRLS IS PRETTY KINKY

That girl’s a super freak

I KIND OF WANT TO TASTE HER

Everytime we meet

You KNOW SHE’S ALRIGHT, SHE’S ALRIGHT

She’s alright with me

She’s a super freak, super freak

She’s super freaky, yeah

5. 3:24

Words & Music by Rick James and Alonzo Miller

She’s a very kinky girl

The kind you won’t take home to mother

And she’ll never let your spirits down

Once you get her off the streets

She likes the boys in the band

She says that I’m her all time favorite

When I make my move to her room it’s the right time

I’m never hard to please

That girl is pretty wild now

The girl’s a super freak

6. 7:17

Words & Music by Rick James

(Monologue)

Wow it’s really good to see yOu again, baby

I MUST ADMIT YOU’RE LOOKING VERY VERY NICE THESE DAYS
I GUESS LIFE MUST BE TREATING YOU WELL

Oh, me? Well I’ve just been doing the same ol’ thing

I’VE ALWAYS BEEN DOING

I’VE GOT A NEW LADY NOW, IT’S A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN IT WAS

When I was with you

I THINK I’VE LEARNED A LOT FROM OUR RELATIONSHIP
YOU KNOW I THINK BACK TO WHEN WE MET

The way I used to be the cold way I used to act

But more than that I thin

; OF HOW YOU VE CHANGED ME WITH

WHEN I USED TO. . .

Love them & leave them

That’s what I used to do, use 5. abuse them

‘Til I LAID EYES ON YOU

It was pain after pleasure

That was my claim to fame

With every measure

Tasted teardrop stain yeah

I WAS COLD AS ICE LONG AGO BABY
I WASN’T VERY NICE DON’T YOU KNOW, SUGAR

Then I kissed your lips
And you turned on my fire
And burned me up within your flame
Took me a little high made me live again

YOU TURNED ON MY FIRE, BABY

And you show me what a love could do
Fire 5. desire got me hooked on you

And I THANK YOU BABY

)

OH HOW I THANK YOU

YOU TAUGHT ME SO MUCH AND SHOWED ME

Love 6. sensitivity

Since you’ve been gone

I don’t think I’ve felt this way before

It’s funny how a man can change so quickly

FROM A COLD-BLOODED PERSON

Think he’s God’s gift to women
Remember how I used to do that, ha
I MUST HAVE BEEN CRAZY THEN

Remember the time I used to. . .

Love them 5. leave them. . . ( I st verse)

Oh maybe I’ve8 said too much

After all you’re kind of with somebody

& I’m kind of living with somebody

But please just before you go -do me one

Just put your arms around me.

Hold me like you used to

And tell me everything gonna be alright

7. 3:53

Words & Music by Rick James

Love me tender baby

I don’t like no pain (I don’t like no pain)

Make me surrender sugar

When you call my name (My name is Rick)

Rock me roll me

Baby don’t you stop (Don’t you ever stop)

Wake me shake me
When your love gets hot

I CAN FEEL YOUR BODY BURNING TO MY FLESH

Like fire, hot fire

Baby you can call me up (You know my number)

Hey baby you can call me up
Call me up

Touch me places baby

I’ve never been touched before (You can do it baby)
Kiss me in spaces make me holler out for more
Give more & more
Give me pleasure baby

Give me every bit you got (Give it to me baby)

Make me feel better by telling me
You’ll never stop (Say you’ll never stop)

I CAN FEEL YOUR BODY BURNIN’ TO MY FLESH

Like fire hot fire

(Repeat I st and 2nd verses)

Baby when you want a hand to hold

When you don’t want to be alone just gotta call me up

Baby when you do it all night

When you want to get it right

Just gotta call me up

Baby when you want my lovin’ around

And when you want to get on down

Just gotta call me up

Baby when you want to do it all night

When you want to get it right

Just gotta call me up

8. 2:35

Words & Music by Rick James

I WAS BORN IN A CITY WE CALL BUFFALO

Zero degrees below is too damn cold and funky

Mama raised me on the numbers racket

With eight kids and no father

Said she couldn’t hack it

On the eastside where I started

Singin’ on the corners

HangiN’ out with all the hoodlums

Pass the joint

Now THE LOVE I FIND IN THE CITY
IS SUCH A CRYIN’ PITY

Ain’t no love for brothers
Pass the joint

I THINK I WANT TO TALK

‘Bout the place I was born, I was torn
Said pass the joint
Give me one mo’ hit
I ain’t finished with it

I GOT SOME MORE TO SAY

Now THE PLAYERS HANGIN’ ‘ROUND THE MAIN STRIP

Actin’ like they’re on a trip

If they had my cash they could be hip

But it’s strange the gossip is so tragic

They call me a faggot

Me and all my women laugh at it

Love I got my good friends there

They really keep me dancin’

They really keep me laughin’

In the country me, my dog and horses
Hangin’ out with my family talkin’

‘Bout Stone City
Pass the joint

I WANNA TALK ‘BOUT THE CITY I WAS BORN

I THINK I WANNA TALK ‘BOUT THE PLACE WHERE I WAS TORN

Said pass the joint

I NEED ONE MO’ HIT
I ain’t finished with it
I GOT SOME MORE TO SAY

‘Bout the city I was born

I GOT TO TALK

I WISH THEY WOULDN’T BE SO TORN
I WANNA TALK ‘BOUT THE CITY I WAS BRED

I NEED TO TALK ‘BOUT THE CITY THAT HAS LED ME TO MY THANG
I WAS BORN IN A CITY WE CALL BUFFALO

Zero degrees below is too damn cold and funky

I THINK I WANNA TALK ABOUT IT
OOH PASS THE JOINT
La la la la la la la la la

I THINK I WANNA SING ABOUT IT

Pass the joint
Thank you

STREET SONGS

On the street where game is beast

And the poet said I will write music for feet
And the prophet said only for feet

Then broke out in laughter and spoke this in ri
I AM THE POET THAT COMES FROM THE STREET

And the music I. write shall be music for fe

And lock them together in the heart for all
The prophet then smiled and said go spread your '

Street Songs,

by Rick James

■mf $

Personnel:

Rick James/Lead Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Percusssion, Drums, Timbales & Tympani, Co'

:• one. City Band: ^ »*•'£* \

Levi Ruffin, Jr./String Ensemble, OBX Synthesizer, Background Vocals ^

Tom McDermott/Guitar, Percussion *

Erskine Williams/Keyboards, Clavinet, Hammond B3

Oscar Alston/Bass, Percussion •

. Rif '*$’ V'v$„

Punk Funk Horns: r <V'

Daniel LeMelle/Flute, Alto & Tenor Saxophone ^ r

S ^ ^

Gerald Albright/Tenor flute on FIRE AND DESIRE, MAKE LOVE TO ME j ' ^Rp 1*

Additional Musicians: f ..▼> / jflK

Violin/Larry Hansen on GHETTO LIFE ^

Trumpet/Roy Poper, Fernando Harkless M ^ IP*

Vibes/Donny Keider _ * '

Drums/Steve Price, Narada Michael Walden on MAKE LOVE TO ME •

PerCussion/Nate Hughes, Bugsy Wilcox, Armando Peraza, Raul Rekow
Harmonica on Mr. POLICEMAN/Stevie Wonder

Singers: Teena Marie on GIVE IT TO ME BABY, MR. POLICEMAN & FIRE AND DESIRE, The Temptations (Melvin Franklin, Otis
Williams & Richard Street) on GHETTO LIFE & SUPER FREAK, Melvin Franklin on GIVE IT TO ME BABY, Lawrence Hilton
Jacobs, Jane’t DuBois, Pattie Brooks, Maxine Waters Willard, Julia Waters Tillman, Marci Thomas, Jackie Ruffin, Rick
James, Levi Ruffin, Jr. & The Mary Jane Band (Lisa Sarna & JoAnne McDuffie).

Handclaps: Levi Ruffin, Jr., Daniel LeMelle, California St. Clair, Lisa Sarna, Aaron Dublin, Oscar Alston, Victor Reed & Teena Marie
String Session Concertmaster/Charles Veal, Jr.

String Contractor/Rollace Dale

String Arrangements/Reggie Andrews, Rick James & Daniel LeMelle
Horn Arrangements/Rick James & Daniel LeMelle

Recorded at The Record Plant, Sausalito, California & Mojown/Hitsville U.S.A. Recording Studios,

Hollywood California, December 1980-January 1981

Recording Engineers/Tom “Super” Flye, Rick “Port Hole” Sanchez & Bobby Brooks
Assistant Engineers/Michael Johnson & Tony Autore
Mixed Down at West Lake Audio, Los Angeles, California
Mixing Engineers/Tom “Super” Flye & Bobby Brooks

Executive Producer: Alonzo Miller on MAKE LOVE TO ME, SUPER FREAK and FIRE AND DESIRE

Original LP Art Direction/Johnny Lee

Design/Ginny Livingston

Logo Design/Norm ah Moore

Photography/Ron Slenzak ^

5:42

10.

7:05

This reissue Supervised by

Original LP and 12 -Inch Mixes Digitally Mastered
from the original flat two-track analog master tapes
by at Universal Mastering Studios-East

Art Direction:

Design:

Photo Coordination:
Photos:

Production Coordination:

Billboard chart numbers courtesy of BPI Communication:
New York, NY, and Joel Whitburn's Record Research Inc.

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Full text of "Street Songs"

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